17 Foods to Avoid on a Kidney Diet!
Foods to avoid in a kidney diet to keep your kidneys healthy, on the other hand these bean -shaped organs that perform many important functions for the body.
These important organs are responsible for filtering blood, removing waste through urine, producing hormones, balancing minerals, and maintaining fluid balance.
Also, there are many risk factors for kidney disease . Among the most common are uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure . Other causes of kidney disease include alcoholism, heart disease , hepatitis C virus and HIV infection .
When the kidneys become damaged and are unable to function properly, fluid can build up in the body and waste products can build up in the blood. However, avoiding or limiting certain foods in your diet can help decrease waste buildup in your blood, improve kidney function, and prevent further damage.
Link between diet and kidney disease:
Dietary restrictions vary depending on the stage of kidney disease. For example, people who are in the early stages of chronic kidney disease will have different dietary restrictions than those with end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure .
Those with end-stage kidney disease who require dialysis will also have varying dietary restrictions. Dialysis is a type of treatment that removes extra water and filters waste.
Also, most people with end-stage or end-stage kidney disease will need to follow a kidney-friendly diet to prevent the buildup of certain chemicals or nutrients in the blood.
In people with chronic kidney disease, the kidneys cannot properly remove excess sodium , potassium , and phosphorus . As a result, they are at greater risk for high blood levels of these minerals.
A kidney-friendly diet, or a “kidney diet,” usually includes limiting sodium and potassium to 2,000 mg per day and limiting phosphorus to 1,000 mg per day.
Damaged kidneys can also have trouble filtering out the waste products of protein metabolism. Therefore, individuals with stages 1-4 chronic kidney disease may need to limit the amount of protein in their diets.
However, those with end-stage renal disease on dialysis have an increased need for protein. Here are foods to avoid on a kidney diet !
Foods to Avoid on a Kidney Diet:
1. Dark-colored tails:
In addition to the calories and sugar that colas provide, they also contain additives that contain phosphorus , especially dark-colored colas.
Many food manufacturers add phosphorus during food and beverage processing to improve flavor, extend shelf life, and prevent discoloration. This added phosphorus is much more absorbable by the human body than natural, animal or plant phosphorus.
Unlike natural phosphorus , it in the form of additives is not bound to protein. On the contrary, it is found in the form of salt and is highly absorbable by the intestinal tract.
Additive phosphorus can usually be found in a product’s ingredient list . However, food manufacturers are not required to list the exact amount of phosphorus additive on food labels.
Although the additive phosphorus content varies depending on the type of glue, most dark colored glues are believed to contain 50 to 100 mg in a 200 ml serving.
2. Avocados:
Avocados are often praised for their many nutritious qualities, including heart-healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants. While avocados are generally a healthy addition to the diet, individuals with kidney disease may need to avoid them.
This is because avocado is a very rich source of potassium. One cup (150 grams) of avocado provides 727 mg of potassium. That’s twice the amount of potassium a medium banana provides.
So avocados, including guacamole, are one of the foods to avoid on a kidney diet , especially if you’ve been told to watch your potassium intake.
3. Canned food:
Canned foods such as soups, vegetables , and beans are often purchased because of their low cost and convenience. However, most canned foods contain high amounts of sodium, as salt is added as a preservative to extend their shelf life.
Because of the amount of sodium found in canned goods, people with kidney disease are often recommended to avoid or limit their consumption.
Choosing low-sodium varieties or those labeled “no added salt” is typically best.
Additionally, draining and rinsing canned foods such as canned beans and tuna can reduce the sodium content by 33% to 80%, depending on the product they are also foods to avoid on a kidney diet.
4. Wholemeal bread:
Choosing the right bread can be confusing for individuals with kidney disease. Often, for healthy people, whole wheat bread is generally recommended compared to refined white flour bread.
Whole wheat bread can be a more nutritious choice, mainly because of its higher fiber content. However, white bread is generally recommended over whole wheat varieties for individuals with kidney disease.
This is due to its phosphorus and potassium content . The more bran and whole grains in the bread, the higher the phosphorus and potassium levels.
For example, a 30 gram serving of whole grain bread contains about 57 mg of phosphorus and 69 mg of potassium. In comparison, white bread contains only 28 mg of phosphorus and potassium .
Note that most bread products, regardless of whether they are white or whole grain, also contain relatively high amounts of sodium.
5. Brown rice:
Like wholegrain bread, brown rice is a whole grain cereal that has a higher potassium and phosphorus content than white rice.
A cup of cooked brown rice contains 150 mg of phosphorus and 154 mg of potassium, while a cup of cooked white rice contains only 69 mg of phosphorus and 54 mg of potassium.
You can adapt brown rice to a kidney diet , but only if the portion is controlled and balanced with other foods to avoid excessive daily intake of potassium and phosphorus .
Bulgur, buckwheat, pearl barley and couscous are nutritious, and have a lower amount of phosphorus , so they can be good substitutes for brown rice.
6. Bananas:
Bananas are known for their high potassium content . While they are naturally low in sodium, one medium banana provides 422 mg of potassium.
It can be difficult to keep your daily potassium intake to 2,000 mg if bananas are a daily food. Unfortunately, many other tropical fruits are high in potassium as well.
However, pineapple contains substantially less potassium than other tropical fruits and may be a more suitable alternative as well as being tasty.
7. Leite:
Dairy products are rich in various vitamins and nutrients. They are also a natural source of phosphorus and potassium and a good source of protein .
For example, 1 cup of whole milk provides 222 mg of phosphorus and 349 mg of potassium. However, excessive consumption of dairy products, in conjunction with other foods rich in phosphorus, can be harmful to bone health in people with kidney disease.
This may seem surprising, as milk and dairy are often recommended for strong bones and muscle health.
However, when the kidneys are damaged, excessive phosphorus consumption can cause a buildup of phosphorus in the blood. This can make your bones thin and weak over time and increase your risk of bone fracture or fracture.
Dairy products are also rich in protein. A cup of whole milk provides about 8 grams of protein.
It may be important to limit your dairy intake to prevent the buildup of protein residues in your blood.
Dairy alternatives, such as rice milk (unfortified) and almond milk , are much lower in potassium, phosphorus, and protein than cow’s milk, making them good substitutes for milk.
8. Orange and orange juice:
While oranges and orange juice are arguably best known for their vitamin C content , they are also rich sources of potassium.
One large orange (184 grams) provides 333 mg of potassium. Also, there are 473 mg of potassium in a glass of orange juice. Also, given their potassium content, oranges and orange juice likely need to be avoided or limited in a Renal Diet .
Grapes , apples and cranberries, as well as their respective juices, are all good substitutes for oranges and orange juice , as they have lower potassium contents.
9. Processed meats:
Processed meats have been associated with chronic diseases and are generally considered unhealthy due to their preservative content. They are salted, dried, cured or canned meats. Some examples include hot dogs, bacon, pepperoni, jerky, and sausage.
In addition, they typically contain large amounts of salt, primarily to improve flavor and preserve flavor. So it can be difficult to keep your daily sodium intake below 2,000 mg if processed meats are plentiful in your diet. In addition, processed meats are rich in protein.
If you’ve been told to monitor your protein intake, it’s important to also limit processed meats for this reason it’s one of the foods to avoid on a kidney diet.
10. Pickles, olives and relish:
Pickles , processed olives , and seasonings are examples of cured or pickled foods. Typically, large amounts of salt are added during the curing or pickling process.
For example, a pickle spear can contain over 300 mg of sodium. Likewise, there are 244 mg of sodium in 2 tablespoons of sweet marinade.
Processed olives also tend to be salty because they are cured and fermented to give them a less bitter taste. Five canned green olives provide around 195 mg of sodium, which is a significant portion of the daily amount in just one small serving.
Many grocery stores have reduced sodium varieties of pickles, olives and condiments, which contain less sodium than traditional varieties.
However, even reduced sodium options can still be high in sodium, so you will still have to control the portions of these foods to avoid on a renal diet.
11. Apricots:
Apricots are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and fiber. They are also rich in potassium. A cup of fresh apricots provides 427 mg of potassium .
In addition, the potassium content is even more concentrated in dried apricots. One cup of dried apricots provides over 1,500 mg of potassium. That means just one cup of dried apricots provides 75% of the 2,000 mg restriction of low potassium.
12. Potato and sweet potato:
Potatoes and sweet potatoes are vegetables rich in potassium. Just one medium-sized boiled potato (156 g) contains 610 mg of potassium, while a medium-sized cooked sweet potato (114 g) contains 541 mg of potassium.
Fortunately, some potassium-rich foods, including potatoes and sweet potatoes, can be soaked or leached to reduce potassium content.
Cutting potatoes into small, thin pieces and cooking them for at least 10 minutes can reduce the potassium content by about 50%.
Potatoes that are soaked in a large pot of water for at least four hours before cooking have proven to have an even lower potassium content than those that are not soaked before cooking.
This method is known as the “potassium leaching” or “double-cooking method”.
Although cooking the potato this way can reduce the potassium content, it is important to remember that its potassium content is not completely eliminated by this method.
Considerable amounts of potassium can still be present in double-cooked potatoes, so it’s best to practice portion control to keep potassium levels in check.
13. Tomatoes:
Tomatoes are another high-potassium fruit that may not fit into a diet’s guidelines. They can be served raw or cooked and are often used to make sauces. Just one cup of tomato sauce can contain over 900 mg of potassium .
Choosing a lower-potassium alternative largely depends on taste preference. However, swapping tomato sauce for a roasted red pepper sauce can be just as delicious, all with less potassium per serving.
14. Ready-to-eat, instant and packaged meals:
Processed foods can be an important component of dietary sodium. Among these foods, packaged, instant and pre-made meals are generally the most processed and therefore contain the most sodium.
Examples include frozen pizza, microwaveable meals, and instant noodles. Keeping your sodium intake to 2,000 mg a day can be difficult if you’re eating highly processed foods on a regular basis. Not only do highly processed foods contain a lot of sodium, they are also lacking in nutrients.
15. Chard, spinach and beetroot:
Swiss chard , spinach and beets are leafy green vegetables that contain high amounts of various nutrients and minerals, including potassium.
When served raw, the amount of potassium varies between 140–290 mg per cup. While leafy vegetables shrink to a smaller size when cooked, the potassium content remains the same.
For example, half a cup of raw spinach will shrink to about 1 tablespoon when cooked. Thus, eating half a cup of cooked spinach will contain a much higher amount of potassium than half a cup of raw spinach. Moderate consumption of raw Swiss chard, spinach and beet greens is preferable to cooked greens to avoid excess potassium.
16. Dates, raisins and plums:
Dates, raisins and plums are common nuts. When fruits are dried, all their nutrients are concentrated, including potassium.
For example, a cup of plums provides 1,274 mg of potassium, which is nearly five times the amount of potassium found in a cup of fresh plums. In addition, just four dates provide 668 mg of potassium.
Given the remarkable amount of potassium found in these common dried fruits, it is best to avoid them in a Renal Diet, to ensure that potassium levels remain favorable.
17. Pretzels, chips and crackers:
Ready-to-eat snacks such as pretzels, chips and crackers tend to be low in nutrients and relatively high in sodium.
Plus, it’s easy to eat more than the recommended serving size of these foods, often leading to an even higher salt intake than intended. What’s more, if the chips are made from potatoes, they also contain a significant amount of potassium.